Conflict or Cooperation? Papers on Jewish Unity

Religious unity and polarization are controversial core issues among Jews today. The 1988 American Jewish Year Book identified Jewish internal religious conflict as "the issue that most worried American Jewish leaders." At stake are the future of relations among the movements, especially between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews, American Jewry-Israel relations, and the ability of the community to maintain a united front in its public advocacy efforts on behalf of Jewish domestic and foreign concerns. This publication includes the major papers delivered at a conference on Jewish unity. The papers address the current degree of conflict, historical precedents, and possible resolutions. Selected conference participants, in turn, were invited to comment upon the papers and the issues that they raised.